Human Rights Media Division Council of Europe Activities Database (CEAD)
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Activity Details (ID# 8570)
Title: Training seminar on media coverage of elections for media professionals 
Description: - Original Location: Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation 
Status: Completed 
Date: 20/02/2006 - 21/02/2006 
Countries: Russian Federation
Contributors:  
Programme: Joint Programme EC/CoE  - Russian Federation- Strengthening the rule of law, human rights and educational standards in the Russian Federation (JP Russia VIII)
Project:    2 - Strengthening and promoting human rights
Specific Objective: 2.5 - Legilsative reform for the media is promoted and Judges, public officials and media professionals...
Working Method: Training Course 
Location: Nizhni Novgorod, Russian Federation
CoE Contact: HIBBARD, Lee email
Partners: Foundation for Information Policy Development - Local or National NGO 
Web Pages: 1 http://www.coe.int/media  
Last Modified: 22/02/2006 

Activity Synopsis

  
Objective(s):

The main objective of the seminar was to provide journalists from the local media with practical training on the coverage of elections in accordance with Council of Europe standards in view of the March 2006 Douma elections. The programme was divided into two sessions: “Journalistic ethics and legal provisions during election times” and “The role of mass media in local election campaigns / Relations between candidates and the media”. 
Output/Results:

The participants agreed that financial dependence prevented journalists from covering election campaigns in a fair, balanced and impartial manner. During the seminar, discussions centred mainly on the restrictive election laws which oblige newspapers to run advertisement for all candidates but also make them responsible for the content of the political advertisement.

Other issues discussed during the seminar included: access of journalists to information during election times and the distinction between 'public relations' (journalism on command) and independent journalism. 
Conclusions/Follow Up:

The participants agreed that much needs to be done to improve the fair, balanced and impartial media coverage of elections in the Nizhny Novgorod region. One of the most pressing problems seems to be the financial dependence of media outlets on business investors or local government agencies.

There also remains a great need for a number of practical training seminars on news coverage during elections campaigns.
 
Participants:

Journalists (editors and sub-editors written press, representatives from the local union of journalists) 
Consultants/Experts:

Ms Galina Arapova, Lawyer, Russia
Ms Marie Jégo, journalist, Le Monde, France/Russia
 
CoE Secretariat:

Ms Franziska Klopfer, Media Division, DG II - Human Rights 
Total No. Participants: 30 
Last Modified: 27/08/2007 


http://www.dsp.coe.int/HR/media/CEAD/ActivitiesListProgramme.asp?ID=8570